Book Review: “The Year of the Beasts”

By Cecil Castellucci
Illustrated by Nate Powell
Roaring Brook Press, May 2012

Reviewed by Daina Tague, 19
Oregon

The Year of the Beasts is a fictional book about two sisters during an eventful summer. Tessa, the oldest sister, becomes jealous of her younger sister, Lulu, when it seems that Lulu’s life is going swimmingly, while TessDia’s seems to have flat-lined.

This story is written in alternating chapters of prose and comics. The style creates a quick, fun read but may be off-putting for people who do not enjoy comics. Fear not, comic haters! The alternating chapters of comics, although at first seem incongruous with the rest of the plot, come together at the end of the book, developing a deeper meaning.

The overpowering theme in The Year of the Beasts is the relationship between sisters Tess and Lulu. Having a sister myself, I connected with Tessa and her feelings of anger and jealousy with her sister Lulu, although it is also true that there is nothing that I would not do for my sister. I love her with all of my heart.

This book was realistic in its portrayal of female teenagers. It covered the topics of first love, best friends, and sisterhood. In the beginning, the book focused mainly on Tessa’s desire for a boyfriend. In the end though, it is obvious that the most important thing to Tessa is her bond with Lulu. The question remains: Can she piece their relationship back together before it’s too late?